Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

State Dept Makes $20K Visa Bond Permanent, Critics Protest

8/1/2026

26 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa-bond program requiring up to $20,000 for B1/B2 visas, which immigration and rights groups say burdens travelers and violates free-speech and due-process rights.
August 3, 2026, the rule drops the $5,000 option and raises the ceiling to $20,000.
The program, covering citizens of 50 countries, 30 in Africa, saw overstays fall from about 45,500 in 2024 to fewer than 50 in ten months.

1 of 1

Story summary

The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa-bond program requiring up to $20,000 for B1/B2 visas, which immigration and rights groups say burdens travelers and violates free-speech and due-process rights.
August 3, 2026, the rule drops the $5,000 option and raises the ceiling to $20,000.
The program, covering citizens of 50 countries, 30 in Africa, saw overstays fall from about 45,500 in 2024 to fewer than 50 in ten months.